Rare earth metal oxide preparation

ABSTRACT

A method for extracting a rare earth metal from a mixture of one or more rare earth metals, said method comprising contacting an acidic solution of the rare earth metal with a composition which comprises an ionic liquid to form an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous phase into which the rare earth metal has been selectively extracted; recovering the rare earth metal from the non-aqueous phase; and processing the recovered rare earth metal into a rare earth metal oxide.

The present invention relates to the preparation of rare earth metal oxides. In particular, the present invention relates to preparation of rare earth metal oxides using a method in which rare earth metals are extracted and separated using specifically designed ionic liquids.

Rare earth metals, which include the lanthanides (La to Lu), Y, and Sc, have unique physicochemical properties which make them crucial components of numerous high-tech products and environmental technologies such as wind mills, LCD/LED displays, phosphors, magnet drives (hard disk), and others. These applications demand a continuous supply of high purity rare earth metals to the industries, which is currently met by mining and processing the natural ores of these metals. However, there are concerns that the exponentially increasing demand of these metals will surpass the supply in coming years and therefore, it has become attractive to explore other secondary sources of these valuable metals. One such source is the recovery of rare earth metals from end-of-life and manufacturing wastes materials (often referred to as “urban mining”), which, though quite challenging, can potentially provide a continuous supply of the rare earth metals. One of most important requirements of urban mining is the development of cost effective and robust separation processes/technologies which allow selective and efficient separation of rare earth metals from each other (intra-group separation) to provide high purity rare earth metals.

During the last five decades various processes such as liquid-liquid extraction (e.g. Rhône-Poulenc process), ion exchange, and precipitation have been developed. Among the various available technologies, liquid-liquid extraction has been found to be the most suitable commercial process owing to its scalability, adaptability, and recyclability. Additionally, the liquid-liquid extraction processes used to date employ commercial organophosphorus extractants which do not possess specific selectivity for individual rare earth metals, thereby leading to a number of stages to separate rare earth metals from each other (see Table 1). Furthermore, additional processing steps are generally required to recover the rare earth metal in high purity. These factors lead to manifold increase in processing costs thereby putting strain on overall costing of consumer products. Also, most employed methods for the separation of rare earth metals necessitate the use of organic solvents, which due to their toxicity, volatility and flammability are not considered environmentally friendly.

Some of the currently used industrial liquid-liquid extraction processes available for intra-group separation of rare earth metals (e.g. separation of dysprosium from neodymium) are compared in Table 1.

The separation factor for an individual rare earth metal pair is expressed as the ratio of the distribution ratios (D_(M)) of the rare earth metals, where the distribution ratio of an individual rare earth metal is determined as the ratio of its concentration in the non-aqueous phase to that in the aqueous phase i.e. D_(M)=[M]_(N-Aq)/[M]_(Aq). For example, the separation factor of Dysprosium with respect to Neodymium=D_(Dy)/D_(Nd).

TABLE 1 Comparison of the separation factors of commonly used REM extractants. Liquid- liquid Separation extraction Major component factor Reference HDEHP Bis-(2-ethylhexyl)- 41.5 C. K. Gupta, N. process phosphoric acid (Dy/Nd) Krishnamurthy, Extractive Metallurgy of Rare Earths, CRC, New York, 2005, pp. 1-484. Cyanex Bis-(2,4,4- 1.36 B. Swain, E.O. Otu, 272 trimethylpentyl) (Dy/Nd) Separation and process phosphinic acid Purification Technology, 83, (2011), 82-90 Cyanex Bis-(2,4,4- 239.3 M. Yuan, A. Luo, D. Li, 302 trimethylpentyl)- (Dy/Nd) Acta Metall. Sin. 1995, process monothiophosphinic 8, 10-14. acid Synergist 2- 1.17 N. Song, S. Tong, W. process ethylhexylphosphonic (Dy/Nd) Liu, Q.Jia, W.Zhoua and acid mono-(2- W.Liaob, J. Chem. ethylhexyl)ester; Technol. Biotechnol., sec-nonylphenoxy 2009, 84, 1798-1802. acetic acid

Another of the most commonly used organophosphorous extractants, P507 (2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid mono(2-ethylhexyl) ester), also gives low separation factors, with the selectivity for heavy rare earth metals generally being lower than for light rare earth metals (e.g. Tm/Er (3.34), Yb/Tm (3.56), and Lu/Yb (1.78)). Another significant deficiency of many common rare earth metal extractants such as P507 is that it is difficult to strip heavy rare earth metals completely, especially for Tm(III), Yb(III), and Lu(III), even at higher acidity. Low selectivity for rare earth metals results in too many stages required for effective separation, the low extractability of rare earth metals demanding the use of higher concentrations of the extractant. The production of organophosphorous extractants also requires complicated synthetic procedures starting from hazardous starting materials and the stability and recyclability of these extractants is limited. Emulsification and leaching of extractants has been identified as another common problem.

A chelating diamide extractant attached to a silica support was reported by Fryxell et al. for the separation of lanthanides (Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 2011, 14, 971-974). However, this system was unable to extract rare earth metals under acidic conditions (pH<5) and crucially showed very low uptake and separation factors between rare earth metals.

Ionic liquids have also been used as potential extractants for rare earth metals. Binnemans et al. reported the extraction of Nd and Dy or Y and Eu from mixtures of transition metal compounds with a betainium bis(trifluoromethyl-sulfonyl)imide ionic liquid (Green Chemistry, 2015, 17, 2150-2163; Green Chemistry, 2015, 17, 856-868). However, this system was unable to selectively perform intra-group separation between rare earth metals.

Chai et al. reported the use of an ionic liquid based on 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono(2-ethylhexyl) ester (P507) with a trioctylmethylammonium cation for separation of rare earth metals (Hydrometallurgy, 2015, 157(C), 256-260). In this case only low distribution factors and separation factors were observed, indicating a lack of extractability and selectivity. In addition, during recovery of the rare earth metal from the ionic liquid, the acid added will decompose the acid-base pair ionic liquid, which must then be regenerated by metathesis.

Separation of Nd and Dy was reported by Schelter et al., whereby separation was achieved by precipitation using a tripodal nitroxide ligand to form Nd and Dy complexes with differing solubilities in benzene. However, precipitation is not considered to be a commercially viable process and, in addition, the process requires the use of specific rare earth metal precursors and an inert, moisture-free environment, which is highly impractical for commercial scale up. This method also relies on the use of benzene to achieve high separation, which is a very toxic solvent.

Therefore, there is a need for the development of effective processes that enhance separation selectivity and extractability, whilst minimizing environmental pollution.

Moreover, once a rare earth metal has been separated, it is necessary to provide it in a suitable form for storage, transportation and use. Accordingly, there is also a need for the development of processes that enhance separation selectivity and extractability, whilst also providing the rare earth metal in a useful form.

By using an ionic liquid having a cation comprising particular features, it has been found that rare earth metals may be extracted and separated from each other with increased selectivity and extractability in comparison to known methods using different extractants and readily further processed into a stable oxide form. As the method uses an ionic liquid, the extractant can also provide decreased volatility and flammability, potentially leading to safer and more environmentally friendly rare earth metal extraction.

Thus, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for preparing a rare earth metal oxide from a mixture of one or more rare earth metals, said method comprising:

-   -   contacting an acidic solution of the rare earth metal with a         composition which comprises an ionic liquid to form an aqueous         phase and a non-aqueous phase into which the rare earth metal         has been selectively extracted,     -   recovering the rare earth metal from the non-aqueous phase; and     -   processing the recovered rare earth metal into a rare earth         metal oxide,         wherein the ionic liquid has the formula:

[Cat⁺][X⁻]

in which:

-   -   [Cat⁺] represents a cationic species having the structure:

-   -   -   where: [Y⁺] comprises a group selected from ammonium,             benzimidazolium, benzofuranium, benzothiophenium,             benzotriazolium, borolium, cinnolinium,             diazabicyclodecenium, diazabicyclononenium,             1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octanium, diazabicyclo-undecenium,             dithiazolium, furanium, guanidinium, imidazolium,             indazolium, indolinium, indolium, morpholinium, oxaborolium,             oxaphospholium, oxazinium, oxazolium, iso-oxazolium,             oxothiazolium, phospholium, phosphonium, phthalazinium,             piperazinium, piperidinium, pyranium, pyrazinium,             pyrazolium, pyridazinium, pyridinium, pyrimidinium,             pyrrolidinium, pyrrolium, quinazolinium, quinolinium,             iso-quinolinium, quinoxalinium, quinuclidinium,             selenazolium, sulfonium, tetrazolium, thiadiazolium,             iso-thiadiazolium, thiazinium, thiazolium, iso-thiazolium,             thiophenium, thiuronium, triazinium, triazolium,             iso-triazolium and uronium groups;         -   each EDG represents an electron donating group; and         -   L₁ represents a linking group selected from C₁₋₁₀             alkanediyl, C₂₋₁₀ alkenediyl, C₁₋₁₀ dialkanylether and C₁₋₁₀             dialkanylketone groups;

    -   each L₂ represents a linking group independently selected from         C₁₋₂ alkanediyl, C₂ alkenediyl, C₁₋₂ dialkanylether and C₁₋₂         dialkanylketone groups; and

    -   [X⁻] represents an anionic species.

The term “ionic liquid” as used herein refers to a liquid that is capable of being produced by melting a salt, and when so produced consists solely of ions. An ionic liquid may be formed from a homogeneous substance comprising one species of cation and one species of anion, or it can be composed of more than one species of cation and/or more than one species of anion. Thus, an ionic liquid may be composed of more than one species of cation and one species of anion. An ionic liquid may further be composed of one species of cation, and one or more species of anion. Still further, an ionic liquid may be composed of more than one species of cation and more than one species of anion.

The term “ionic liquid” includes compounds having both high melting points and compounds having low melting points, e.g. at or below room temperature. Thus, many ionic liquids have melting points below 200° C., particularly below 100° C., around room temperature (15 to 30° C.), or even below 0° C. Ionic liquids having melting points below around 30° C. are commonly referred to as “room temperature ionic liquids” and are often derived from organic salts having nitrogen-containing heterocyclic cations. In room temperature ionic liquids, the structures of the cation and anion prevent the formation of an ordered crystalline structure and therefore the salt is liquid at room temperature.

Ionic liquids are most widely known as solvents. Many ionic liquids have been shown to have negligible vapour pressure, temperature stability, low flammability and recyclability. Due to the vast number of anion/cation combinations that are available it is possible to fine-tune the physical properties of the ionic liquid (e.g. melting point, density, viscosity, and miscibility with water or organic solvents) to suit the requirements of a particular application.

Typically, when rare earth metals are extracted from sources such as ores or waste materials, the resulting product is a mixture of rare earth metals dissolved in an aqueous acidic solution. In the method according to the present invention, rare earth metals may be selectively extracted directly from an aqueous acidic feed, negating the need to apply significant processing to the feed prior to extraction.

It will be appreciated that in order to form an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous phase when contacted with the acidic solution, the composition comprising an ionic liquid will be sufficiently hydrophobic such that a phase separation will occur between the aqueous solution and the composition.

By the use of the composition comprising an ionic liquid as defined herein, it has been surprisingly found that increased selectivity and extractability may be obtained in the extraction of rare earth metals from an acidic solution. The combination of high extractability (indicated by distribution ratio) and selectivity (indicated by separation factors) is key to a commercially effective separation process because the number of separation stages necessary to produce a product may be reduced without sacrificing purity. For example, according to the method of the present invention, mixtures of dysprosium and neodymium may be separated with a selectivity (separation factor) of over 1000:1 in a single contact. This represents a substantial increase over known systems as reported in Table 1.

Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the presence of the central nitrogen donor atom in the ionic liquid allows for differing binding strengths to different rare earth metals as a result of differing ionic radii due to lanthanide contraction. In this way, some rare earth metals are preferentially bound by the hydrophobic ionic liquid extractant, which results in effective intra-group separation of the rare earth metals. It is believed that the arrangement of this variable nitrogen binding as part of an ionic liquid provides the particularly effective extraction of rare earth metals described herein. Nonetheless, it will be appreciated that the ionic liquid comprising a nitrogen donor, whilst discriminating between different rare earth metals, must have additional electron donating groups appended in order to provide sufficient extractability.

Once the rare earth metal has been extracted into the ionic liquid, the rare earth metal is recovered from the non-aqueous phase. This recovery may be performed using any suitable means, however it is preferred that the rare earth metal is recovered from the non-aqueous phase by stripping with an acidic stripping solution. This gives an acidic stripping solution comprising the recovered rare earth metal.

It will be appreciated that the acidic stripping solution may be any acidic solution which liberates the rare earth metal from the ionic liquid. In most embodiments, the acidic stripping solution will be an aqueous acidic stripping solution and the acid will substantially remain in the aqueous phase on contact with the ionic liquid. Preferably, the acidic stripping solution comprises an aqueous hydrochloric acid or nitric acid solution.

The stripping of the rare earth metal may be conducted in any suitable manner. Preferably, the ionic liquid is contacted with an acidic stripping solution for 2 or more stripping cycles to completely strip the rare earth metal, more preferably 2 or 3 stripping cycles are used. In some embodiments, a single stripping cycle may be used. A “stripping cycle” as referred to herein will typically comprise contacting the acidic stripping solution with the composition, equilibrating for an amount of time, for example 5 to 30 minutes, and separating the aqueous and organic phases. A second cycle may be conducted by contacting the composition with another acidic stripping solution substantially free of rare earth metals.

One advantage of the ionic liquid extractant as described in relation to the first aspect is that the rare earth metal may be stripped from the ionic liquid at a relatively high pH. This saves costs associated with both the amount and the strength of acid needed to strip the rare earth metals from the ionic liquid and the equipment necessary to handle such strong acids. In addition, it is possible to completely strip rare earth metals from the ionic liquid at a relatively high pH, whilst for many known extractants such as P507 it is difficult to completely strip heavy rare earth metals (e.g. Tm(III), Yb(III), Lu(III)) even at low pH.

Thus, the acidic stripping solution preferably has a pH of 0 or higher. In preferred embodiments, the acidic stripping solution has a pH of 1 or lower.

The acidic stripping solution comprising the recovered rare earth metal may be processed into a rare earth metal by:

-   -   contacting the acidic stripping solution comprising the         recovered rare earth metal with oxalic acid to give a rare earth         metal oxalate; and     -   converting, e.g. by calcination, the rare earth metal oxalate         into the rare earth metal oxide.

The acidic stripping solution comprising the recovered rare earth metal is preferably contacted with oxalic acid at room temperature, e.g. at a temperature of from 15 to 30° C. For instance, the contacting may be carried out without the application of heat or cooling.

The contacting is preferably carried out at ambient pressure (e.g. at a pressure of approximately 100 kPa). For instance, the contacting may be carried out without the application of pressure.

The acidic stripping solution comprising the recovered rare earth metal and the oxalic acid are preferably mixed, e.g. by being stirred.

The oxalic acid may be used in an amount which is sufficient to precipitate the rare earth metal as a rare earth metal oxalate, e.g. in a molar excess as compared to the rare earth metal. The method of the present invention preferably comprises separating the precipitated rare earth metal oxalate from the acidic stripping solution, e.g. by filtration or other known solid-liquid separation techniques, before it is converted into its oxide form. The separated solid may be washed, e.g. with water.

The rare earth metal oxalate may be calcined at a temperature of at least 500° C., preferably at least 700° C., and more preferably at least 900° C. The rare earth metal oxalate may be calcined at a temperature of up to 1500° C., preferably up to 1300° C., and more preferably up to 1100° C. Thus, the rare earth metal oxalate may be calcined at a temperature of from 500 to 1500° C., preferably from 700 to 1300° C., and more preferably from 900 to 1100° C.

The calcination is preferably carried out at ambient pressure (e.g. at a pressure of approximately 100 kPa). For instance, the calcination may be carried out without the application of pressure.

Calcination may take place in an oxygen atmosphere or in air.

Alternatively, the rare earth metal may be recovered from the non-aqueous phase by electrodeposition. The electrodeposited rare earth metal may then be processed into a rare earth metal oxide, optionally by conversion first into a hydroxide or nitrate.

The rare earth metal oxides will typically have the formula: M₂O₃, where M is the rare earth metal. The rare earth metal oxide will typically be prepared in a powder form.

The oxide form of rare earth metals is advantageously stable, enabling the rare earth metal to be, among other things, stored, transported or used. For instance, the rare earth metal oxide may be further processed into an oxide-derived material. One use for the rare earth metal oxide is in a magnet. Thus, the method of the present invention may further comprise processing the rare earth metal oxide into a magnet. In embodiments where the source of the rare earth metal is also a magnet, the method of the present invention therefore represents a complete recycling process.

In some instances, it may be desirable to provide a rare earth metal oxalate rather than a rare earth metal oxide. Thus, the present invention may provide a method for preparing a rare earth metal oxalate from a mixture of one or more rare earth metals, the method comprising: contacting (as described herein) an acidic solution of the rare earth metal with a composition which comprises an ionic liquid to form an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous phase into which the rare earth metal has been selectively extracted; recovering (as described herein) the rare earth metal from the non-aqueous phase; and processing (as described herein) the recovered rare earth metal into a rare earth metal oxalate.

In preferred embodiments, the method comprises extracting a rare earth metal from a mixture of two or more rare earth metals. Preferably, the acidic solution comprises a first and a second rare earth metal, and the method comprises:

-   -   (a) preferentially partitioning the first rare earth metal into         the non-aqueous phase, recovering the first rare earth metal         from the non-aqueous phase, and processing the recovered first         rare earth metal into a rare earth metal oxide.

It will be appreciated that the recovering and processing steps are preferably as described above.

Preferably, the method further comprises, in step (a), separating the non-aqueous phase from the acidic solution; and

-   -   (b) contacting the acidic solution depleted of the first rare         earth metal with the composition which comprises an ionic         liquid, and optionally recovering the second rare earth metal         therefrom.

The method preferably comprises recovering the second rare earth metal from the non-aqueous phase and processing the recovered second rare earth metal into a rare earth metal oxide. The recovering and processing steps are preferably carried out as described above.

In some preferred embodiments the first rare earth metal is recovered from the non-aqueous phase in step (a), and said non-aqueous phase is recycled and used as the composition in step (b).

It will be appreciated that, because the extractability (distribution factor) for a particular rare earth metal varies with pH, it may be preferred to extract different rare earth metals at different pH levels. For example, the acidic solution may have a lower pH in step (a) in comparison to that in step (b). Preferably, the acidic solution has a pH of less than 3.5 in step (a), and the acidic solution has a pH of greater than 3.5 in step (b). Typically, 2 or 3 extraction cycles will be performed at a particular pH. Although the above embodiment describes extraction in only two different pH values, it will be appreciated that a separation of rare earth metals will usually be conducted across a range of pH values, with a gradual increase in pH and multiple extraction steps. For example, where three or more rare earth metals are separated, several separation steps may be conducted in across a particular pH range, for example from pH 1 to 4.

The acidic solution from which the rare earth metal is extracted may have any suitable pH.

Preferably, the rare earth metal is extracted at a pH of more than 1, more preferably at a pH of from 2 to 4.

The pH level of the acidic solution of the rare earth metal may be adjusted in any suitable way, as is well known to those skilled in the art. For example, the pH level of the acidic solution may be altered by the addition of acid scavengers such as mildly alkaline solutions including sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, ammonia, CO₂, amines or alcohols.

The above embodiments refer to the separation of a particular rare earth metal from another directly from the acidic solution of the rare earth metal at varying pH levels. However, it will be understood that any suitable extraction sequence may be used to separate rare earth metals. For example, two or more rare earth metals may be extracted from the acidic solution to the non-aqueous phase simultaneously at a higher pH, followed by back-extraction of the non-aqueous phase with acidic solutions having a lower pH to separate individual rare earth metals. Thus, all or only some of the rare earth metals present in the acidic solution may initially be extracted from the acidic solution using the composition comprising the ionic liquid.

It will be appreciated that the separation of certain pairs of rare earth metals are of particular importance due to their simultaneous recovery from valuable waste materials. For example, Nd and Dy are widely used in permanent magnets for numerous applications such as hard disks, MRI scanners, electric motors and generators. La and Eu are also an important pair due to their common use in lamp phosphors, other phosphors include Y and Eu (YOX phosphors); La, Ce and Tb (LAP phosphors); Gd, Ce and Tb (CBT phosphors); and Ce, Tb (CAT phosphors).

Thus, in preferred embodiments, the first rare earth metal is dysprosium, and the second rare earth metal is neodymium. In other preferred embodiments, the first rare earth metal is europium, and the second rare earth metal is lanthanum. In yet other preferred embodiments, the first rare earth metal is terbium, and the second rare earth metal is cerium.

The composition may be contacted with the acidic solution in any suitable manner and in any suitable ratio such that exchange of rare earth metals is achieved between the aqueous and non-aqueous phases.

The composition is preferably added to the acidic solution in a volume ratio of from 0.5:1 to 2:1, preferably 0.7:1 to 1.5:1, more preferably 0.8:1 to 1.2:1, for example 1:1.

Nonetheless, it will be appreciated that the volume ratio will vary depending on the manner in which the acidic solution is contacted with the composition comprising the ionic liquid.

Preferably, prior to contacting the composition with the acidic solution of the rare earth metal the composition is equilibrated with an acidic solution having the same pH as the acidic solution of the rare earth metal. In this way, the mixture of the composition and the acidic solution will generally remain at the desired pH level during the extraction.

The composition may be contacted with the acidic solution of the rare earth metal under any conditions suitable for extracting the rare earth metal.

It will be appreciated that the temperature employed during contacting of the acidic solution with the composition comprising the ionic liquid may be any suitable temperature and may vary according to the viscosity of the composition comprising the ionic liquid. For example, where a higher viscosity composition is used, a higher temperature may be necessary in order to obtain optimal results.

Preferably, the acidic solution is contacted with the composition at ambient temperature, i.e. without external heating or cooling. It will nonetheless be appreciated that temperature changes may naturally occur during the extraction as a result of contacting the composition with the acidic solution.

The composition may be contacted with the acidic solution of the rare earth metal for any length of time suitable to facilitate extraction of the rare earth metal into the non-aqueous phase. Preferably, the length of time will be such that an equilibrium is reached and the proportions of rare earth metal in the aqueous and non-aqueous phases are constant. In preferred embodiments, the method comprises contacting the acidic solution of the rare earth metal and the composition for from 1 to 40 minutes, preferably from 5 to 30 minutes.

Preferably, the method comprises contacting and physically mixing the acidic solution of the rare earth metal and the composition. Such mixing will usually speed up extraction of the rare earth metal. Any suitable apparatus may be used to achieve this and mixing apparatus is well known in the art. For example, the mixture may be mixed using an agitator or stirrer. The mixing apparatus may comprise equipment specifically designed for multi-phase mixing such as high shear devices. Alternatively, mixing may comprise shaking the mixture, for example, using a wrist action shaker.

The separation of the aqueous and non-aqueous phases may be performed by any suitable method, for example by use of small scale apparatus such as a separating funnel or Craig apparatus. It will be appreciated that the phases will normally be allowed to settle prior to separation. Settling may be under gravity or preferably accelerated by the use of additional equipment such as centrifuge. Alternatively, aqueous and non-aqueous phases may be separated by the use of equipment which both contacts and separates the phases, for example a centrifugal extractor, a pulsed column, or a combined mixer-settler.

It will be understood that in order to extract or separate some rare earth metals, multiple extractions and separations may be performed. This may involve multiple extractions of the acidic solution of the rare earth metal with the composition or multiple back-extractions of the non-aqueous phase with an aqueous acidic solution. In accordance with the present invention, fewer steps are required to separate rare earth metals due to the ionic liquid extractant giving separation factors and distribution ratios above those typically found in previous systems.

The term electron donating group (EDG) as used herein will be understood to include any group having a pair of electrons available to form a coordinate bond with an acceptor. In particular, it will be appreciated that an electron donating group, as defined herein, refers to groups having an available pair of electrons able to coordinate to a rare earth metal to form a metal-ligand complex. It will also be understood that the EDGs will typically have a single atom from which the electrons are donated to form a bond. However, electrons may alternatively be donated from one or more bonds between atoms, i.e. EDG may represent a ligand with a hapticity of 2 or more.

It will be understood that the arrangement of the EDGs and the linkers L₂ will be such that the EDGs and the central nitrogen atom are able to coordinate to a rare earth metal simultaneously.

Preferably, when the nitrogen linking L₁ to each L₂ and one of the EDG both coordinate to a metal, the ring formed by the nitrogen, L₂, the EDG and the metal is a 5 or 6 membered ring, preferably a 5 membered ring.

In preferred embodiments, [Y⁺] represents an acyclic cation selected from:

[—N(R^(a))(R^(b))(R^(c))]⁺, [—P(R^(a))(R^(b))(R^(c))]⁺ and [—S(R^(a))(R^(b))]⁺,

-   -   wherein: R^(a), R^(b) and R^(c) are each independently selected         from optionally substituted C₁₋₃₀ alkyl, C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl and         C₆₋₁₀ aryl groups.

In other preferred embodiments, [Y⁺] represents a cyclic cation selected from:

-   -   wherein: R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d), R^(e) and R^(f) are each         independently selected from: hydrogen and optionally substituted         C₁₋₃₀ alkyl, C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl and C₆₋₁₀ aryl groups, or any two         of R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d) and R^(e) attached to adjacent         carbon atoms form an optionally substituted methylene chain         —(CH₂)_(q)— where q is from 3 to 6.

Suitably, in preferred embodiments, at least one of R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d), R^(e) and R^(f) is a C₁₋₅ alkyl group substituted with —CO₂R^(x), —OC(O)R^(x), —CS₂R^(x), —SC(S)R^(x), —S(O)OR^(x), —OS(O)R^(x), —NR^(x)C(O)NR^(y)R^(z), —NR^(x)C(O)OR^(y), —OC(O)NR^(y)R^(z), —NR^(x)C(S)OR^(y), —OC(S)NR^(y)R^(z), —NR^(x)C(S)SR^(y), —SC(S)NR^(y)R^(z), —NR^(x)C(S)NR^(y)R^(z), —C(O)NR^(y)R^(z), —C(S)NR^(y)R^(z), wherein R^(x), R^(y) and R^(z) are independently selected from hydrogen or C₁₋₆ alkyl.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, [Y⁺] represents a saturated heterocyclic cation selected from cyclic ammonium, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octanium, morpholinium, cyclic phosphonium, piperazinium, piperidinium, quinuclidinium, and cyclic sulfonium.

Preferably, [Y⁺] represents a saturated heterocyclic cation having the formula:

-   -   wherein: R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d), R^(e) and R^(f), are as         defined above.

Preferably, at least one of R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d), R^(e) and R^(f) is C₁₋₃ alkyl group substituted with —CO₂R^(x), —C(O)NR^(y)R^(z), wherein R^(x), R^(y) and R^(z) are each independently selected from C₃₋₆ alkyl.

More preferably, at least one of R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d), R^(e) and R^(f) represents a group selected from:

-   -   wherein R^(y)=R^(z), and wherein R^(x), R^(y) and R^(z) are each         selected from C₃₋₆ alkyl, preferably C₄ alkyl, for example i-Bu.

Yet more preferably, at least one of R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d), R^(e) and R^(f) represents a group selected from:

-   -   wherein R^(y)=R^(z), and wherein R^(y) and R^(z) are selected         from C₃₋₆ alkyl, preferably C₄ alkyl, for example i-Bu.

In preferred embodiments, one of R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d), R^(e) and R^(f) is a substituted C₁₋₅ alkyl group, and the remainder of R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d), R^(e) and R^(f) are independently selected from H and unsubstituted C₁₋₅ alkyl groups, preferably the remainder of R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d), R^(e) and R^(f) are H.

Preferably, [Y⁺] represents a cyclic cation selected from:

more preferably [Y⁺] represents the cyclic cation:

preferably wherein R^(f) is a substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl group, and the remainder of R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d), R^(e) and R^(f) are independently selected from H and unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl groups.

In preferred embodiments, L₁ represents a linking group selected from C₁₋₁₀ alkanediyl and C₁₋₁₀ alkenediyl groups, more preferably selected from C₁₋₅ alkanediyl and C₂₋₅ alkenediyl groups, and most preferably selected from C₁₋₅ alkanediyl groups, for example a linking group selected from —CH₂—, —C₂H₄— and —C₃H₆—.

In preferred embodiments, each L₂ represents a linking group independently selected from C₁₋₂ alkanediyl and C₂ alkenediyl groups, preferably selected from C₁₋₂ alkanediyl groups, for example independently selected from —CH₂— and —C₂H₄—.

Each EDG may be any suitable electron donating group able to form a coordinate bond with a rare earth metal to form a metal-ligand complex.

Preferably, each EDG represents an electron donating group independently selected from ——CO₂R^(x), —OC(O)R^(x), —CS₂R^(x), —SC(S)R^(x), —S(O)OR^(x), —OS(O)R^(x), —NR^(x)C(O)NR^(y)R^(z), —NR^(x)C(O)OR^(y), —OC(O)NR^(y)R^(z), —NR^(x)C(S)OR^(y), —OC(S)NR^(y)R^(z), —NR^(x)C(S)SR^(y), —SC(S)NR^(y)R^(z), —NR^(x)C(S)NR^(y)R^(z), —C(O)NR^(y)R^(z), —C(S)NR^(y)R^(z), wherein R^(x), R^(y) and R^(z) are independently selected from H or C₁₋₆ alkyl. More preferably, each EDG represents an electron donating group independently selected from —CO₂R^(x) and —C(O)NR^(y)R^(z), wherein R^(x), R^(y) and R^(z) are each independently selected from C₃₋₆ alkyl.

In preferred embodiments, each —L₂-EDG represents an electron donating group independently selected from:

-   -   wherein R^(y)=R^(z), and wherein R^(x), R^(y) and R^(z) are each         selected from C₃₋₆ alkyl, preferably C₄ alkyl, for example i-Bu.

More preferably, each —L₂-EDG represents an electron donating group independently selected from:

-   -   wherein R^(y)=R^(z), and wherein R^(y) and R^(z) are selected         from C₃₋₆ alkyl, preferably C₄ alkyl, for example i-Bu.

It will be appreciated that, as set out previously, the extraction of rare earth metals is provided by the specific functionality of the cation of the ionic liquid. Thus, any suitable anionic species [X⁻] may be used as part of the ionic liquid used in the method of the present invention.

Preferably, [X⁻] represents one or more anionic species selected from: hydroxides, halides, perhalides, pseudohalides, sulphates, sulphites, sulfonates, sulfonimides, phosphates, phosphites, phosphonates, phosphinates, methides, borates, carboxylates, azolates, carbonates, carbamates, thiophosphates, thiocarboxylates, thiocarbamates, thiocarbonates, xanthates, thiosulfonates, thiosulfates, nitrate, nitrite, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate and perchlorate, halometallates, amino acids, borates, polyfluoroalkoxyaluminates.

For example, [X⁻] preferably represents one or more anionic species selected from:

-   -   a) a halide anion selected from: F⁻, Cl⁻ or, Br⁻, I⁻;     -   b) a perhalide anion selected from: [I₃]⁻, [I₂Br]⁻, [IBr₂]⁻,         [Br₃]⁻, [Br₂C]⁻, [BrCl₂]⁻, [ICl₂]⁻, [I₂Cl]⁻, [Cl₃]⁻;     -   c) a pseudohalide anion selected from: [N₃]⁻, [NCS]⁻, [NCSe]⁻,         [NCO]⁻, [CN]⁻;     -   d) a sulphate anion selected from: [HSO₄]⁻, [SO₄]²⁻,         [R²OSO₂O₂]⁻;     -   e) a sulphite anion selected from: [HSO₃]⁻, [SO₃]²⁻, [R²OSO₂]⁻;     -   f) a sulfonate anion selected from: [R¹SO₂O]⁻;     -   g) a sulfonimide anion selected from: [(R¹SO₂)₂N]⁻;     -   h) a phosphate anion selected from: [H₂PO₄]⁻, [HPO₄]²⁻, [PO₄]³⁻,         [R²OPO₃]²⁻, [(R²O)₂PC₂]⁻;     -   i) a phosphite anion selected from: [H₂PO₃]⁻, [HPO₃]²⁻,         [R²OPO₂]²⁻, [(R²O)₂PO]⁻;     -   j) a phosphonate anion selected from: [R¹PO₃]²⁻,         [R¹P(O)(OR²)O]⁻;     -   k) a phosphinate anion selected from: [R¹R²P(O)O]—;     -   l) a methide anion selected from: [(R¹SO₂)₃C]⁻;     -   m) a borate anion selected from: [bisoxalatoborate],         [bismalonatoborate]         tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate,         tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate;     -   n) a carboxylate anion selected from: [R²CO₂]⁻;     -   o) an azolate anion selected from:         [3,5-dinitro-1,2,4-triazolate], [4-nitro-1,2,3-triazolate],         [2,4-dinitroimidazolate], [4,5-dinitroimidazolate],         [4,5-dicyano-imidazolate], [4-nitroimidazolate], [tetrazolate];     -   p) a sulfur-containing anion selected from: thiocarbonates (e.g.         [R²OCS₂]⁻, thiocarbamates (e.g. [R² ₂NCS₂]⁻), thiocarboxylates         (e.g. [R¹CS₂]⁻), thiophosphates (e.g. [(R²O)₂PS₂]⁻),         thiosulfonates (e.g. [RS(O)₂S]⁻), thiosulfates (e.g.         [ROS(O)₂S]⁻);     -   q) a nitrate ([NO₃]⁻) or nitrite ([NO₂]⁻) anion;     -   r) a tetrafluoroborate ([BF₄ ⁻]), hexafluorophosphate ([PF₆ ⁻]),         hexfluoroantimonate ([SbF₆ ⁻]) or perchlorate ([ClO₄ ⁻]) anion;     -   s) a carbonate anion selected from [CO₃]²⁻, [HCO₃]⁻, [R²CO₃]⁻;         preferably [MeCO₃]⁻;     -   t) polyfluoroalkoxyaluminate anions selected from         [Al(OR^(F))₄]⁻, wherein R^(F) is selected from C₁₋₆ alkyl         substituted by one or more fluoro groups;     -   where: R¹ and R² are independently selected from the group         consisting of C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₆ aryl, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl(C₆)aryl and C₆         aryl(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl each of which may be substituted by one or         more groups selected from: fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, C₁ to C₆         alkoxy, C₂ to C₁₂ alkoxyalkoxy, C₃ to C₈ cycloalkyl, C₆ to C₁₀         aryl, C₇ to C₁₀ alkaryl, C₇ to C₁₀ aralkyl, —CN, —OH, —SH, —NO₂,         —CO⁻²R^(x), —OC(O)R^(x), —C(O)R^(x), —C(S)R^(x), —CS₂R^(x),         —SC(S)R^(x), —S(O)(C₁ to C₆)alkyl, —S(O)O(C₁ to C₆)alkyl,         —OS(O)(C₁ to C₆)alkyl, —S(C₁ to C₆)alkyl, —S—S(C₁ to C₆ alkyl),         —NR^(x)C(O)NR^(y)R^(z), —NR^(x)C(O)OR^(y), —OC(O)NR^(y)R^(z),         —NR^(x)C(S)O R^(y), —OC(S)NR^(y)R^(z), —NR^(x)C(S)SR^(y),         —SC(S)NR^(y)R^(z), —NR^(x)C(S)NR^(y)R^(z), —C(O)NR^(y)R^(z),         —C(S)NR^(y)R^(z), —NR^(y)R^(z), or a heterocyclic group, wherein         R^(x), R^(y) and R^(z) are independently selected from hydrogen         or C₁ to C₆ alkyl, wherein R¹ may also be fluorine, chlorine,         bromine or iodine.

While [X⁻] may be any suitable anion, it is preferred that [X⁻] represents a non-coordinating anion. The term “non-coordinating anion” used herein, which is common in the field of ionic liquids and metal coordination chemistry, is intended to mean an anion that does not coordinate with a metal atom or ion, or does so only weakly. Typically, non-coordinating anions have their charge dispersed over several atoms in the molecule which significantly limits their coordinating capacity. This limits the effect interference of the anion with the selective coordination of the cation [Cat⁺] with the rare earth metal.

Thus, more preferably, [X⁻] represents one or more non-coordinating anionic species selected from: bistriflimide, triflate, bis(alkyl)phosphinates such as bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinate, tosylate, perchlorate, [Al(OC(CF₃)₃)₄ ⁻], tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate, tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tetrafluoroborate, hexfluoroantimonate and hexafluorophosphate anions; and most preferably from bistriflimide, triflate and bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinate anions. Phosphinate anions in particular have been shown to give high levels of extractability.

In some preferred embodiments, [Cat⁺] represents one or more ionic species having the structure:

-   -   where: [Z⁺] represents a group selected from ammonium,         benzimidazolium, benzofuranium, benzothiophenium,         benzotriazolium, borolium, cinnolinium, diazabicyclodecenium,         diazabicyclononenium, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octanium,         diazabicyclo-undecenium, dithiazolium, furanium, guanidinium,         imidazolium, indazolium, indolinium, indolium, morpholinium,         oxaborolium, oxaphospholium, oxazinium, oxazolium,         iso-oxazolium, oxothiazolium, phospholium, phosphonium,         phthalazinium, piperazinium, piperidinium, pyranium, pyrazinium,         pyrazolium, pyridazinium, pyridinium, pyrimidinium,         pyrrolidinium, pyrrolium, quinazolinium, quinolinium,         iso-quinolinium, quinoxalinium, quinuclidinium, selenazolium,         sulfonium, tetrazolium, thiadiazolium, iso-thiadiazolium,         thiazinium, thiazolium, iso-thiazolium, thiophenium, thiuronium,         triazinium, triazolium, iso-triazolium and uronium groups.

It will be understood that the composition may comprise the ionic liquid as defined above in combination with a diluent. Typically, a diluent may be used in order to decrease the viscosity of the composition where the ionic liquid has a high viscosity, which limits its practical use in liquid-liquid extraction. A diluent may also be used to save costs where the diluent is cheaper to produce than the ionic liquid. It will be understood that any diluent added to the composition will be sufficiently hydrophobic so as to allow the separation of the composition and the acidic solution of the rare earth metal into an aqueous and non-aqueous phase. In some embodiments, the diluent may enhance the hydrophobicity of the composition.

Thus, in preferred embodiments, the composition further comprises a lower viscosity ionic liquid. The term “lower viscosity ionic liquid” will be understood to mean that this ionic liquid has a lower viscosity than the ionic liquid extractant described previously. As mentioned, it will be understood that the lower viscosity ionic liquid will be sufficiently hydrophobic so as to allow the separation of the composition and the acidic solution of the rare earth metal into an aqueous and non-aqueous phase. It will also be appreciated that the hydrophobicity may be provided by either of the cation or anion of the lower viscosity ionic liquid, or by both.

By the use of an ionic liquid as a diluent, the decreased volatility and flammability offered by the ionic liquid extractant may be maintained to give a potentially safer and more environmentally friendly rare earth metal extraction process.

In preferred embodiments, the cation of the lower viscosity ionic liquid is selected from ammonium, benzimidazolium, benzofuranium, benzothiophenium, benzotriazolium, borolium, cinnolinium, diazabicyclodecenium, diazabicyclononenium, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octanium, diazabicyclo-undecenium, dithiazolium, furanium, guanidinium, imidazolium, indazolium, indolinium, indolium, morpholinium, oxaborolium, oxaphospholium, oxazinium, oxazolium, iso-oxazolium, oxothiazolium, phospholium, phosphonium, phthalazinium, piperazinium, piperidinium, pyranium, pyrazinium, pyrazolium, pyridazinium, pyridinium, pyrimidinium, pyrrolidinium, pyrrolium, quinazolinium, quinolinium, iso-quinolinium, quinoxalinium, quinuclidinium, selenazolium, sulfonium, tetrazolium, thiadiazolium, iso-thiadiazolium, thiazinium, thiazolium, iso-thiazolium, thiophenium, thiuronium, triazinium, triazolium, iso-triazolium and uronium groups.

Preferably the cation of the lower viscosity ionic liquid is selected from phosphonium, imidazolium and ammonium groups.

In some preferred embodiments, the cation of the lower viscosity ionic liquid is selected from:

[N(R³)(R⁴)(R⁵)(R⁶)]⁺ and [P(R³)(R⁴)(R⁵)(R⁶)]⁺,

-   -   wherein: R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are each independently selected from         optionally substituted C₁₋₂₀ alkyl, C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl and C₆₋₁₀         aryl groups.

In more preferred embodiments, the cation of the lower viscosity ionic liquid is [P(R³)(R⁴)(R⁵)(R⁶)]⁺, wherein R³, R⁴, R⁵ are selected from C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, preferably C₂₋₆ alkyl, and R⁶ is selected from C₄₋₂₀ alkyl, preferably C₈₋₁₄ alkyl. For example, the cation of the lower viscosity ionic liquid may be selected from triethyloctyl phosphonium (P₂₂₂₍₈₎]⁺), tributyloctyl phosphonium (P₄₄₄₍₈₎]⁺), trihexyloctyl phosphonium (P₆₆₆₍₈₎]⁺), trihexyldecyl phosphonium (P₆₆₆₍₁₀₎]⁺), and trihexyltetradecyl phosphonium (P₆₆₆₍₁₄₎]⁺).

In other more preferred embodiments, the cation of the lower viscosity ionic liquid is [N(R³)(R⁴)(R⁵)(R⁶)]⁺, wherein R³, R⁴, R⁵ are selected from C₄₋₁₄ alkyl, preferably C₆₋₁₀ alkyl, and R⁶ is selected from C₁₋₄ alkyl, preferably C₁₋₂ alkyl. For example, the cation of the lower viscosity ionic liquid may be selected from trioctylmethyl ammonium, tris(2-ethylhexyl) methyl ammonium, and tetrabutyl ammonium.

In other preferred embodiments, the cation of the lower viscosity ionic liquid is selected from imidazolium cations substituted with one or more C₁₋₂₀ alkyl, C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl and C₆₋₁₀ aryl groups, preferably substituted with two C₁₋₁₀ alkyl groups, more preferably substituted with one methyl group and one C₁₋₁₀ alkyl group. For example, the cation of the lower viscosity ionic liquid may be selected from 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium, 1-hexyl-3-methyl imidazolium and 1-octyl-3-methyl imidazolium.

It will be understood that any suitable anionic group may be used as the anion of the lower viscosity ionic liquid. Preferably, the anion of the lower viscosity ionic liquid is as described previously in relation to the anionic group [X⁻]. For example, it is most preferred that the anion of the lower viscosity ionic liquid is a non-coordinating anion as described previously. It will be appreciated that there may be an excess of anions from the lower viscosity ionic liquid in comparison to the ionic liquid extractant. Therefore, it is especially preferred that the anion of the lower viscosity ionic liquid is a non-coordinating anion.

For this reason, it is preferable to limit the total amount of halide or pseudohalide anions in the composition. For example, in preferred embodiments the composition comprises less than 25% halide or pseudohalide anions as a proportion of the total anions, preferably less than 20%, more preferably less than 15%, most preferably less than 10%, for example less than 5%. In some embodiments, the composition is substantially free of halide or pseudohalide anions.

The composition may alternatively or additionally further comprise one or more non-ionic liquid diluents. For example, in some preferred embodiments, the composition further comprises one or more organic solvents. It will be understood that suitable organic solvents will include hydrophobic and non-coordinating solvents. The term “non-coordinating solvent” used herein, which is common in the field of metal coordination chemistry, is intended to mean a solvent that does not coordinate with metal atoms or ions, or does so only weakly.

Suitable organic solvents include but are not limited to hydrocarbon solvents such as C₁₋₂₀ alkanes, alkenes or cycloalkanes, aromatic solvents such as toluene or benzene, C₆₊ alcohols such as n-hexanol, etheric solvents such as diethyl ether, dipropyl ether, dibutyl ether and methyl-t-butyl ether, or halogenated solvents such as tetrachloromethane, tetrachloroethane, chloroform, dichloromethane, chlorobenzene, or fluorobenzene. Preferably the organic solvent is a hydrocarbon solvent.

The ionic liquid may be present in the composition in any concentration suitable for extracting rare earth metals and it will be appreciated that this concentration will vary depending on the particular application and pH. In particular, it will be appreciated that for the separation of rare earth metals a competitive separation is desirable. For example the concentration of the ionic liquid should be low enough to avoid the extraction of all rare earth metals present. Therefore, the concentration of the ionic liquid will typically depend on the concentration of rare earth metals to be extracted and the pH at which the separation is conducted. In some preferred embodiments, the ionic liquid is present in the composition in a concentration of at least 0.001 M, preferably from 0.005 M to 0.01 M.

In other embodiments, the composition may consist essentially of the ionic liquid.

It will be appreciated that the concentration of the ionic liquid in the composition may be varied in order to achieve a particular target viscosity for the composition. It will also be appreciated that the character of the lower viscosity ionic liquid or other diluent may be varied in order to obtain a particular viscosity level.

In preferred embodiments, the viscosity of the composition is in the range of from 50 to 500 mPa·s at 298K, when the composition comprises a solution of the ionic liquid in a lower viscosity ionic liquid. When the ionic liquid is in a solution of an organic solvent, it will be appreciated that the composition will likely have a lower viscosity, for example, less than 50 mPa·s. Viscosity may be measured by any suitable method, for example viscosity may be measured using a rotating disk viscometer with variable temperature.

The source of the rare earth metal is preferably a mineral or a waste material. In some embodiments, the acidic solution is obtainable by leaching the rare earth metal from its source using an acid, for example a mineral acid such as hydrochloric, nitric, perchloric or sulfuric acid, typically hydrochloric or nitric acid. However, it will be appreciated that the acidic solution of the rare earth metal or mixture of rare earth metals may be obtained in any suitable way from any rare earth metal source.

In preferred embodiments, the source of the rare earth metal source is comminuted before leaching. This increases the surface area of the rare earth metal source that is exposed to leaching. Suitable methods for comminuting the source of the rare earth metal include crushing, grinding or milling.

The concentration of rare earth metals in the acidic solution is typically from 60 ppm to 2000 ppm. Nonetheless, it will be appreciated that any suitable concentration of rare earth metals in the acid solution may be used.

Typically, rare earth metals are obtained from rare earth ores, which are mined and processed by a variety of methods depending on the particular ore. Such processes are well known in the art. Usually, following mining such processes may include steps such as grinding, roasting to remove carbonates, chemical processing (e.g alkali/hydroxide treatment), and ultimately leaching with acid to obtain an aqueous acidic solution containing a mixture of rare earth metals.

Examples of rare earth metal bearing minerals contained in rare earth ores are aeschynite, allanite, apatite, bastnasite, brannerite, britholite, eudialyte, euxenite, fergusonite, gadolinite, kainosite, loparite, monazite, parisite, perovskite, pyrochlore, xenotime, yttrocerite, huanghoite, cebaite, florencite, synchysite, samarskite, and knopite.

Rare earth metals may also increasingly be obtained from recycled materials. As global demand for rare earth metals grows, it is increasingly attractive to obtain earth metals from recycled waste materials, particularly in countries with a lack of minable rare earth ore deposits. Rare earth waste materials may be obtained from various sources, for example direct recycling of rare earth scrap/residues from pre-consumer manufacturing, “urban mining” of rare earth containing end of life products, or landfill mining of urban and industrial waste containing rare earths. As rare earth metals are increasingly being used in consumer products, the amount of rare earth metals that can be obtained from such waste materials is also growing.

Waste materials that may contain rare earth metals include, magnetic swarf and rejected magnets, rare earth containing residues from metal production/recycling (e.g. postsmelter and electric arc furnace residues or industrial residues such as phosphogypsum and red mud), phosphors such as those in fluorescent lamps, LEDs, LCD backlights, plasma screens and cathode ray tubes, permanent magnets (e.g. NdFeB) such as those used in automobiles, mobile phones, hard disk drives, computers and peripherals, electronic kitchen utensils, hand held tools, electric shavers, industrial electric motors, electric bicycles, electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle motors, wind turbine generators, nickel-metal hydride batteries such as are used for rechargeable batteries and electric and hybrid vehicle batteries, glass polishing powders, fluid cracking catalysts and optical glass. Major end-of-life waste material sources of rare earths in terms of value are permanent magnets, nickel-metal hydride batteries and lamp phosphors, as well as scrap in the form of magnetic swarf waste.

Rare earth metals will usually be extracted from waste materials by leaching with mineral acids and optionally further processing to remove impurities such as transition metals. This results in an acidic solution of the rare earth metals, which may be used as a source for separation and purification of the individual rare earth metals.

Preferably the rare earth metal source is processed into an acidic solution comprising rare earth metal by a process comprising:

-   -   i. dissolving the rare earth metal source in a first mineral         acid;     -   ii. adding a base to precipitate the rare earth metal as a salt;     -   iii. converting the salt into an oxide;     -   iv. converting the oxide into a halide salt; and     -   v. dissolving the halide salt in a second mineral acid to form         the acidic solution comprising rare earth metal.

This method is particularly suitable for rare earth metal sources that are waste materials, such as metal magnet waste materials. Since these sources typically contain a mixture of rare earth metals, then the product of step ii. may be a mixed rare earth metal salt, the product of step iii. may be a mixed rare earth metal oxide, the product of step iv. may be a mixed rare earth metal halide, and the product of step v. may be an acidic solution comprising mixed rare earth metals (i.e. at least a first and second rare earth metal). By carrying out these pre-treatment steps, a purified mixed rare earth metal solution may be provided.

The rare earth metal source is preferably comminuted, e.g. as described above, before step i. is carried out. Where the rare earth metal source is a magnet, it may also be demagnetised before step i., e.g. at a temperature of from 300 to 400° C. Demagnetization is preferably carried out before the rare earth metal source is comminuted.

The mineral acid that is used in step i. is preferably sulfuric acid. Step i. may be carried out at elevated temperature (e.g. a temperature of from 100 to 200° C.) and at elevated pressure (e.g. a pressure of from 3 to 7 bar), though ambient conditions are also suitable.

A wide range of bases may be used in step ii. Suitable bases include ammonia, ammonium hydroxide and caustic soda. Step ii. may be carried out at elevated temperature (e.g. a temperature of from 100 to 200° C., or preferably a temperature of from 70 to 90° C., for example 75 to 85° C.) and at elevated pressure (e.g. a pressure of from 3 to 7 bar), though ambient conditions are also suitable. Since the acid-base reaction is exothermic, it is generally preferable to add the base slowly in step ii. The precipitated salt that forms in step ii. may be filtered and washed before step iii. is carried out.

Steps i. and ii. may be carried out in the same vessel, preferably a stirred vessel.

Step iii. may be carried out by

-   -   iiia. contacting the salt with oxalic acid to give an oxalate         salt; and     -   iiib. converting, e.g. by calcination, the oxalate salt into the         rare earth metal oxide.

Step iiia may be carried out under ambient conditions (e.g. at a temperature of from 15 to 30° C., and at a pressure of approximately 100 kPa). The oxalate salt may be filtered and washed before step iiib. is carried out. Step iiib. may be carried out at a temperature of from 900 to 1100° C., and at ambient pressure (e.g. at a pressure of approximately 100 kPa). The oxide may be filtered and washed before step iv. is carried out.

Step iv. is preferably carried out by contacting the oxide with a hydrogen halide acid, and more preferably with hydrochloride acid. Step iv. may be carried out at elevated temperature (e.g. at a temperature of from 100 to 200° C.) and at elevated pressure, though ambient conditions are also suitable. The halide salt may be further purified before step v. is carried out, e.g. by recrystallisation. However, it will often be sufficient to simply wash the halide salt with water or the hydrogen halide acid.

Step v. is preferably carried out by dissolving the halide salt in a hydrogen halide acid, preferably hydrochloride acid.

Thus, it is an advantage of the present invention that rare earth metals may be extracted with high selectivity and extractability directly from an acidic solution of the rare earth metal, which may be conveniently obtained from the extraction process of an ore or a waste material.

The ionic liquid defined herein may be prepared by a method which comprises reacting:

-   -   where: LG represents a leaving group.

A “leaving group” as used herein will be understood to mean a group that may be displaced from a molecule by reaction with a nucleophilic centre, in particular a leaving group will depart with a pair of electrons in heterolytic bond cleavage. A leaving group is usually one that is able to stabilize the additional electron density that results from bond heterolysis. Such groups are well-known in the field of chemistry.

It will be understood that the group [Z] may be any group that is able to displace the leaving group to form a [Z⁺] cation as defined previously herein.

It will be appreciated that a leaving group as defined herein will be such that the primary amine coupled by L₁ to [Z] may displace the leaving group to form a bond between the nitrogen and an L₂ group, and such that the group [Z] can displace the leaving group to form a bond between [Z] and an L₂ group.

Leaving groups may, for example, include a group selected from dinitrogen, dialkyl ethers, perfluoroalkylsulfonates such as triflate, tosylate or mesylate, halogens such as Cl, Br and I, water, alcohols, nitrate, phosphate, thioethers and amines. Preferably, the leaving group LG is selected from halides, more preferably the leaving group LG is Cl.

Such substitution reactions as described herein are well-known in the art and could be performed by a skilled person without difficulty.

By preparing an ionic liquid by this method, an ionic liquid having advantageous rare earth metal extraction properties may be conveniently synthesised in a single step, reducing the increased costs associated with multiple step syntheses.

The present invention will now be illustrated by way of the following examples and with reference to the following figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a graph showing the distribution factors for the extraction of a selection of rare earth metals according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 shows the crystal structure of the [MAIL]⁺ cation coordinating to Nd after extraction from an acidic (HCl) solution containing NdCl₃.6H₂O.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing extraction of a selection of rare earth metals using [MAIL⁺][R₂P(O)O⁻].

FIG. 4 is a graph showing extraction of a selection of rare earth metals using [MAIL-6C⁺][NTf₂ ⁻].

FIG. 5 is a graph showing extraction of a selection of rare earth metals using [MAIL-Ph⁺][NTf₂ ⁻].

EXAMPLES Example 1: Synthesis of Ionic Liquid General Procedure for the Synthesis of an Ionic Liquid According to Embodiments of the Invention

A reaction mixture comprising 3 moles of an N,N-dialkyl-2-chloroacetamide and a substrate having the structure H₂N-L₁-[Z] were stirred in a halogenated solvent (e.g. CHCl₃, CH₂Cl₂, etc.) or an aromatic solvent (e.g. toluene, xylene, etc.) at 60 to 70° C. for 7 to 15 days. After cooling, the solid was filtered off and the organic phase was repeatedly washed with 0.1 to 0.2 M HCl until the aqueous phase showed milder acidity (pH≥2). The organic phase was then washed with 0.1 M Na₂CO₃ (2-3 washes) and finally was washed with deionized water until the aqueous phase showed a neutral pH. The solvent was removed under high vacuum to give the ionic liquid product (with a chloride anion) as a highly viscous liquid. This ionic liquid could be used as it was or the chloride anion could be exchanged with different anions (e.g. bistriflimide, triflate, hexafluorophosphate etc.) using conventional metathesis routes, for example, by reacting with an alkali metal salt of the desired anion with the ionic liquid in an organic solvent.

Synthesis of an Imidazolium Ionic Liquid

[MAIL⁺][NTf₂ ⁻]:

1-(3-Aminopropyl)-imidazole (0.05 mol) was added to of N,N-diisobutyl-2-chloroacetamide (0.15 mol) in a 500 ml three necked round bottom flask. Triethylamine (0.11 moles) was then added along with chloroform (200 ml). The reaction was stirred for 6 hours at room temperature and then stirred at 60 to 70° C. for 7 days. The reaction mixture was then cooled and after filtration it was successively washed with 0.1 M HCl, 0.1 M Na₂CO₃ and deionized water (as described in general procedure). The solvent was removed from the neutralised organic phase at 8 mbar (6 mm Hg) and finally at 60° C. and 0.067 mbar (0.05 mmHg). The ionic liquid [MAIL⁺]Cl⁻ was recovered as a highly viscous yellow liquid.

Ionic liquid [MAIL⁺]Cl⁻ (0.025 mol) was dissolved in chloroform and lithium bis-(trifluoromethane) sulfonamide (LiNTf₂) (0.03 mol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1 hour and then the organic phase was repeatedly washed with deionized water. Finally the solvent was removed from the organic phase under vacuum (0.13 mbar, 0.1 mm Hg) at 65° C. to yield the bistriflimide anion form of the ionic liquid ([MAIL⁺][NTf₂ ⁻]). [MAIL-6C⁺][NTf₂ ⁻]:

A mixture of potassium pthalimide (10.0 g, 54.0 mmol) and 1,b-dibromobutane (9.91 mL, 64.8 mmol) in dry DMF (100 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 12 days. The mixture was concentrated and extracted with chloroform (3×30 mL) and washed with deionised water (3×80 mL) and brine (100 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated to give a white syrup. The syrup was triturated with hexanes, filtered and dried to give a white solid product (3) (14.3 g, 85%).

To NaH (0.645 g, 26.9 mmol) in THF was added at 0° C. under N₂, imidazole (1.21 g, 17.7 mmol) in THF was added over 30mins, and stirred for a further 30mins at 0° C. 3 (5.00 g. 16.1 mmol) in THF was added at 0° C. and the mixture stirred for 1 hour at room temperature, then refluxed at 70° C. overnight. The mixture was filtered and the residual NaBr was washed with THF. The filtrate was concentrated to give a syrup which was dissolved in DCM to give a yellow solution which was then washed with water and dried over sodium sulfate and triturated with hexanes to precipitate a white solid which was filtered and washed with hexanes (4) (1.52 g, 32%).

4 (0.750 g, 2.54 mmol) was dissolved in a EtOH:H₂O mixture (160 mL, 3:1) and hydrazine hydrate (50-60%, 0.174 mL, 5.55 mmol) was added at room temperature and the mixture refluxed overnight. The solution was cooled to room temperature and concentrated HCl (2 mL) was added, the reaction mixture changed from colourless to yellow to red to light yellow during the addition. The mixture was stirred at reflux for 6 hours and filtered. The solution was concentrated and dissolved in distilled water to give a yellow solution. Sodium hydroxide was added until the mixture reached pH 11, it was then extracted with chloroform (4×40 mL), dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated to give an orange oil (5) (0.329 g, 78%).

To a high pressure vessel was added 5 (0.257 g, 1.54 mmol), triethylamine (0.623 g, 6.16 mmol), N,N-diisobutyl-2-chloroacetamide (0.950 g, 4.62 mmol) and chloroform (5 mL). The vessel was stoppered and stirred at 140° C. on an oil bath for 16 hours. The reaction mixture was washed with pH 1 HCl (40 mL), Na₂CO₃ (2×40 mL) then water (4×40 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give a viscous dark brown liquid (6) (0.648 g, 59%).

To a round bottom flask was added 6 (0.6255 g, 0.88 mmol) followed by DCM (50 mL). LiNTf₂ (0.7572 g, 2.64 mmol) was added followed by water (50 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The aqueous layer was removed and the organic layer washed with deionised water (4×40 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated. The product was dried overnight to give a black viscous liquid, [MAIL-6C⁺][NTf₂ ⁻], (0.7467 g, 89%).

[MAIL-Ph⁺][NTf₂ ⁻]:

To a high pressure vessel was added 1-(3-aminopropyl)imidazole (0.200 g, 1.60 mmol), triethylamine (0.647 g, 6.39 mmol), 2-chloro-N,N-diphenylacetamide (1.18 g, 4.49 mmol) and chloroform (5 mL). The vessel was stoppered and stirred at 145° C. on an oil bath for 16 hours. The reaction mixture was washed with pH 1 HCl (15 mL), then water (4×150 mL).

The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give an orange/brown solid (7) (0.883 g, 70%).

To a 50 mL round-bottom flask was added 7 (0.444 g, 0.560 mmol) followed by DCM (20 mL). LiNTf₂ (0.484 g, 1.69 mmol) was added followed by deionised water (20 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The aqueous layer was removed and the organic layer washed with deionised water (5×15 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated. The product was dried overnight to give a viscous brown liquid, [MAIL-Ph⁺][NTf₂ ⁻], (0.351 g, 65%).

The phosphinate ionic liquid [MAIL⁺][R₂P(O)O⁻] (R=2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) was also synthesised by ion exchange.

Synthesis of Phosphonium Ionic Liquids

[MAIL-PPh₃ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻]:

To a 50 mL round-bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar triphenylphosphine (0.836 g, 3.19 mmol), 3-bromopropylamine hydrobromide (1.00 g, 4.57 mmol), and acetonitrile (25 mL) were added. The suspension was then heated and stirred at reflux for 16 hours. The reaction was cooled to room temperature, and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure, and the resulting white solid was then dried in vacuo, and used in subsequent steps without further purification (1.01 g, 79%).

To a 50 mL round-bottom flask was added (3-Aminopropyl)(triphenyl)phosphonium bromide (1.01 g, 0.252 mmol) followed by DCM (20 mL). LiNTf₂ (2.17 g, 7.55 mmol) was added followed by deionised water 20 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The aqueous layer was removed and the organic layer washed with deionised water (5×15 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated. The product was dried overnight to give a white solid (1.26 g, 84%).

To a high pressure vessel was added (3-Aminopropyl)(triphenyl)phosphonium bistriflimide (0.200 g, 0.333 mmol), triethylamine (0.135 g, 1.33 mmol), N,N-diisobutyl-2-chloroacetamide (0.137 g, 0.666 mmol) and chloroform (5 mL). The vessel was stoppered and stirred at 145° C. on an oil bath for 48 hours. The reaction mixture was washed with pH 1 HCl (15 mL), then water (4×150 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give a viscous dark brown liquid, [MAIL-PPh₃ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻], (0.282 g, 90%).

[MAIL-PPh₃ ⁺][R₂P(O)O⁻]:

To a high pressure vessel was added (3-Aminopropyl)(triphenyl)phosphonium bromide (1.01 g, 2.53 mmol), triethylamine (1.03 g, 10.1 mmol), N,N-diisobutyl-2-chloroacetamide (1.04 g, 5.07 mmol) and chloroform (5 mL). The vessel was stoppered and stirred at 145° C. on an oil bath for 48 hours. The reaction mixture was washed with pH 1 HCl (15 mL), then water (4×150 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give a viscous dark brown liquid (0.981 g, 56%).

To a 50 mL round-bottom flask was added the phosphonium diamide (0.898 g, 1.29 mmol) followed by DCM (20 mL). R₂P(O)OH (R=2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) (0.356 g, 1.29 mmol) was added followed by a KOH solution (40%, 20 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 16 hours. The aqueous layer was removed and the organic layer washed with deionised water (5×15 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated. The product was dried overnight to give a white solid, [MAIL-PPh₃ ⁺][R₂P(O)O⁻], (0.943 g, 77%).

[MAIL-P₄₄₄ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻]:

To a 50 mL round-bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar tributylphosphine (0.823 g, 4.07 mmol), 3-bromopropylamine hydrobromide (0.890 g, 4.07 mmol), and acetonitrile (25 mL) were added. The suspension was then heated and stirred at reflux for 48 hours. The reaction was cooled to room temperature, and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure, and the resulting oil was then dried in vacuo, and used in subsequent steps without further purification (1.24 g, 89%).

To a 50 mL round-bottom flask was added (3-Aminopropyl)(tributyl)phosphonium bromide (0.559 g, 1.64 mmol) followed by DCM (20 mL). LiNTf₂ (1.41 g, 4.93 mmol) was added followed by deionised water (20 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The aqueous layer was removed and the organic layer washed with deionised water (5×15 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated.

The product was dried overnight to give a colourless oil (0.304 g, 34%).

To a high pressure vessel was added (3-Aminopropyl)(tributyl)phosphonium bistriflimide (0.200 g, 0.370 mmol), triethylamine (0.150 g, 1.48 mmol), N,N-diisobutyl-2-chloroacetamide (0.152 g, 0.740 mmol) and chloroform (5 mL). The vessel was stoppered and stirred at 145° C. on an oil bath for 48 hours. The reaction mixture was washed with pH 1 HCl (15 mL), then water (4×150 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give a viscous dark brown liquid, [MAIL-P₄₄₄ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻], (0.250 g, 77%).

[MAIL-P₈₈₈ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻]:

To a 50 mL round-bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar trioctylphosphine (0.872 g, 2.35 mmol), 3-bromopropylamine hydrobromide (0.500 g, 2.28 mmol), and acetonitrile (25 mL) were added. The suspension was then heated and stirred at reflux for 48 hours. The reaction was cooled to room temperature, and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure, and the resulting oil was then dried in vacuo, and used in subsequent steps without further purification (0.889 g, 85%).

To a 50 mL round-bottom flask was added (3-Aminopropyl)(trioctyl)phosphonium bromide (0.564 g, 1.11 mmol) followed by DCM (20 mL). LiNTf₂ (0.954 g, 3.32 mmol) was added followed by deionised water (20 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The aqueous layer was removed and the organic layer washed with deionised water (5×15 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated.

The product was dried overnight to give a colourless oil (0.542 g, 69%).

To a high pressure vessel was added (3-Aminopropyl)(trioctyl)phosphonium bistriflimide (0.200 g, 0.282 mmol), triethylamine (0.114 g, 1.13 mmol), N,N-diisobutyl-2-chloroacetamide (0.116 g, 0.564 mmol) and chloroform (5 mL). The vessel was stoppered and stirred at 145° C. on an oil bath for 48 hours. The reaction mixture was washed with pH 1 HCl (15 mL), then water (4×150 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give a viscous dark brown liquid, [MAIL-P₈₈₈ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻]0.313 g, 99%).

Example 2: Liquid-Liquid Extraction of Rare Earth Metals using [MAIL⁺][NTf₂ ⁻]

General Procedure for Extraction of Rare Earth Metals

Equal volumes (2 to 5 ml) of the ionic liquid extractant ([MAIL⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] in [P₆₆₆₍₁₄₎ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻]) and an acidic aqueous feed solution containing rare earth metals in HCl were equilibrated for 15-30 minutes on a wrist action shaker. The phases were centrifuged and the aqueous phase was analysed for rare earth metal content using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), though it will be appreciated that any suitable analysis technique may be used. The proportion of the rare earth metals extracted into the ionic liquid (organic) phase was determined through mass balance using the ICP-OES measurement.

The distribution ratio of an individual rare earth metal was determined as the ratio of its concentration in the ionic liquid phase to that of it in the aqueous phase (raffinate). D_(M)=[M]_(IL)/[M]_(Aq), where IL represents ionic liquid phase and Aq represents the aqueous phase (raffinate).

The separation factor (SF) with respect to an individual rare earth metal pair is expressed as the ratio of the distribution ratio of a first rare earth metal with the distribution ratio of a second rare earth metal. For example, the separation factor of dysprosium with respect to neodymium=D_(Dy)/D_(Nd). It will be appreciated that separation factors estimated from independently obtained distribution ratios will be lower than the actual separation factors, obtained during the separation of mixtures of rare earth metals during a competitive separation (as exemplified below).

Distribution ratios for individual rare earth metals were obtained in separate extractions according to the general procedure above, using 0.0075 M [MAIL⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] in [P₆₆₆₍₁₄₎ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] and a 200 mg/l (ppm) HCl solution of the relevant rare earth metal chloride (where 200 ppm refers to the concentration of the elemental metal in the solution). FIG. 1 shows a plot of the distribution ratios for each rare earth metal as a function of pH, showing that the ionic liquid according to the present invention may be used to extract rare earth metals across a range of pH values.

The separation of rare earth metals was also performed by the above method using 0.0075 M of the ionic liquids [MAIL⁺][R₂P(O)O⁻], [MAIL-6C⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] and [MAIL-Ph⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] in [P₆₆₆₍₁₄₎ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻]. These ionic liquids were also found to differentially extract rare earth metals at pH 1 to pH4 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

Recycling of Ionic Liquid

Dy was extracted from an aqueous solution of Dy (180 ppm) at pH4 using 0.025 M [MAIL⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] in [P₆₆₆₍₁₄₎ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] (>95% extracted) and the ionic liquid stripped at pH 1 using HCl (1:1 ionic liquid to stripping solution ratio) in 4 contacts. The ionic liquid was washed with deionised water to raise the pH to 7, and was used in further extractions. The amount of Dy extracted dropped by around 20% compared to the first extraction, but remained at a constant level over four subsequent extractions.

Separation of Dy and Nd

An aqueous HCl solution containing DyCl₃.6H₂O (60 mg/l (ppm) Dy) and NdCl₃.6H₂O (1400 mg/l (ppm) Nd) at pH 3 was extracted with the ionic liquid extractant (0.005 M [MAIL⁺][INTf₂ ⁻] in [P₆₆₆₍₁₄₎ ⁺][INTf₂ ⁻]) according to the general procedure above. A single contact (extraction) gave D_(Dy)=13.45, D_(Nd)=0.0124, giving a SF_(Dy-Nd) of 1085.

This separation factor (1085) is considerably higher than the separation factors obtained for Dy/Nd separation by the systems in the prior art shown in Table 1 (maximum 239).

The above separation was repeated using 0.0075M of an ionic liquid in [P₆₆₆₍₁₄₎ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] at pH2. The extraction was performed using [MAIL⁺][NTf₂ ⁻], [MAIL⁺][R₂P(O)O⁻], [MAIL-6C⁺][NTf₂ ⁻], [MAIL-P₄₄₄ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻], [MAIL-P₈₈₈ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻], [MAIL-PPh₃ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] and [MAIL-PPh₃ ⁺][R₂P(O)O⁻] and the results are shown in Table 2. As can be seen, ionic liquids described herein can be used to completely selectively extract Dy from Nd. Completely selective extraction of Dy from Nd using [MAIL⁺][NTf₂ ⁻], [MAIL⁺][R₂P(O)O⁻] and [MAIL-6C⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] was also observed at pH 1.8, with extraction of more than 50% Dy.

TABLE 2 Ionic liquid Dy % Extraction Nd % Extraction [MAIL⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] 82 0 [MAIL⁺][R₂P(O)O⁻] 86.5 0 [MAIL-6C⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] 83 0 [MAIL-P₄₄₄ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] 89 0 [MAIL-P₈₈₈ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] 87 0 [MAIL-PPh₃ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] 90 0.6 [MAIL-PPh₃ ⁺][R₂P(O)O⁻] 90 0

Separation of Eu and La

An aqueous HCl solution containing EuCl₃.6H₂O (65 mg/l (ppm) Eu) and LaCl₃.7H₂O (470 mg/l (ppm) La) at pH 3 was extracted with the ionic liquid extractant (0.005 M [MAIL⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] in [P₆₆₆₍₁₄₎ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻]) according to the general procedure above. A single contact (extraction) gave D_(Eu)=9.3, D_(La)=0.044, giving a SF_(Eu-La) of 211.

Separation of Tb and Ce

An aqueous HCl solution containing TbCl₃.6H₂O (530 mg/l (ppm) Tb) and CeCl₃.6H₂O (950 mg/l (ppm) Ce) at pH 3 was extracted with the ionic liquid extractant (0.0075 M [MAIL⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] in [P₆₆₆₍₁₄₎ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻]) according to the general procedure above. A single contact (extraction) gave D_(Tb)=11.2, D_(Ce)=0.068, giving a SF_(Tb-Ce) of 162.

Example 3: Stripping of Rare Earth Metals from [MAIL⁺][NTf₂ ⁻]

Dy(III) (80 ppm) was stripped from an organic phase at pH 0.25 comprising [MAIL⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] in [P₆₆₆₍₁₄₎ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] (0.0075 M) in 3 successive contacts. The organic phase was contacted with an equal volume of an aqueous HCl solution (0.55 M) and was equilibrated for 15-30 minutes on a wrist action shaker. 67 ppm of Dy(III) was stripped in the first contact, 10 ppm was stripped in the second contact, and 2 ppm was stripped in the third contact.

Similarly, from observation of the distribution ratios in FIG. 1, it is clear that heavy rare earth metals such as Tm, Yb and Lu have significantly reduced distribution factors with increasing acidity. Thus, it is also expected that heavy rare earth metals may be stripped from the ionic liquid of the present invention at relatively high pH values.

The above examples show that a large increase in the separation factors between key rare earth metal pairs may be obtained by use of an ionic liquid according to the present invention (e.g. Nd/Dy: Nd-Dy magnet, Eu/La: white lamp phosphor, Tb/Ce: green lamp phosphor). The rare earth metals may also be advantageously stripped from the ionic liquid at relatively high pH compared to prior art systems.

Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that a more pronounced increase in distribution ratios is observed for heavier rare earth metals than lighter rare earth metals as a result of increased formation of the more hydrophobic doubly coordinated rare earth metal species M.([MAIL⁺][NTf₂ ⁻])₂ over the singly coordinated species M.([MAIL⁺][NTf₂ ⁻]). It is believed that the more hydrophobic species will be more easily extracted into the organic phase during separation, leading to increased distribution ratios.

Nuclear magnetic resonance, infra-red and mass spectrometry studies have shown that the doubly coordinated species is more abundant in solutions of Lu and the ionic liquid compared to solutions of La and the ionic liquid, highlighting the differentiation between the heavy and light rare earth metals achieved by the ionic liquid of the present invention.

Furthermore, optimised geometries of the complexes LaCl₃.([MAIL⁺][Cl⁻])₂ and LuCl₃.([MAIL⁺][Cl⁻])₂ show that the distance between the tertiary central nitrogen of the ionic liquid cation and the metal is much longer in the case of La (˜2.9 Å, non-bonding) than in the case of Lu (˜2.6 Å, bonding), which also supports the weaker bonding of the ionic liquid to lighter rare earth metals. At the same time, the electron donating groups, in this case amides, linked to the nitrogen atom bond to the metal in a very similar way in both cases. This result shows that the central motif of the ionic liquid cation having a tertiary nitrogen donor is important for the differentiation obtained between the heavier and lighter rare earth metals and the improved selectivity that results therefrom.

Example 4: Preparation of Rare Earth Metal Oxides

An aqueous HCl stripping solution composition comprising Dy is contacted with oxalic acid at room temperature and pressure. The mixture is stirred. Dysprosium oxalate (Dy₂(C₂O₄)₂) precipitates from the solution. The precipitate is separated from the acidic stripping solution by filtration, and is washed with water. The dysprosium oxalate precipitate is calcined at 1000° C. to give dysprosium oxide (Dy₂O₃).

Example 5: Extraction of Rare Earth Metals from a Magnet Sample

A magnet sample containing rare earth metals was obtained in powdered form and was converted to the chloride form as follows. The magnet feed was dissolved in 2 M H₂SO₄. The undissolved impurities were removed by filtration. The pH was raised to 1.5 using ammonium hydroxide at 60° C. At 60° C. the rare-earth sulphates crash out of solution leaving the iron sulphate impurity in solution. The separated rare-earth sulphate was converted to the oxalate (by contacting with oxalic acid to and washing the rare-earth oxalate with water) and calcined at 900° C. to form the rare-earth oxide. The rare-earth oxide is converted into the rare-earth chloride by leaching into a HCl solution and recrystallised.

A feed solution of 0.2 g rare-earth chloride salt in 50 mL pH 2 solution (HCl) was prepared. The feed solution had an initial concentration of 20.93 ppm Dy and 1573.81 ppm Nd.

Separate extractions were carried out as described in Example 2, using 0.0075 M [MAIL⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] or [MAIL⁺][R₂P(O)O⁻] in [P₆₆₆₍₁₄₎ ⁺][NTf₂ ⁻] at pH 2. The ionic liquids were both found to extract more than 90% of the Dy in the solution after 4 contacts, whilst extracting less than 5% Nd. 

1. A method for preparing a rare earth metal oxide from a mixture of rare earth metals, said method comprising: contacting an acidic solution of the rare earth metal with a composition which comprises an ionic liquid to form an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous phase into which the rare earth metal has been selectively extracted; recovering the rare earth metal from the non-aqueous phase; and processing the recovered rare earth metal into a rare earth metal oxide, wherein the ionic liquid has the formula: [Cat⁺][X⁻] in which: [Cat⁺] represents a cationic species havina the structure:

where: [Y⁺] comprises a group selected from ammonium, benzimidazolium, benzofuranium, benzothiophenium, benzotriazolium, borolium, cinnolinium, diazabicyclodecenium, diazabicyclononenium, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octanium, diazabicyclo-undecenium, dithiazolium, furanium, guanidinium, imidazolium, indazolium, indolinium, indolium, morpholinium, oxaborolium, oxaphospholium, oxazinium, oxazolium, iso-oxazolium, oxothiazolium, phospholium, phosphonium, phthalazinium, piperazinium, piperidinium, pyranium, pyrazinium, pyrazolium, pyridazinium, pyridinium, pyrimidinium, pyrrolidinium, pyrrolium, quinazolinium, quinolinium, iso-quinolinium, quinoxalinium, quinuclidinium, selenazolium, sulfonium, tetrazolium, thiadiazolium, iso-thiadiazolium, thiazinium, thiazolium, iso-thiazolium, thiophenium, thiuronium, triazinium, triazolium, iso-triazolium and uronium groups; each EDG represents an electron donating group; and L₁ represents a linking group selected from C₁₋₁₀ alkanediyl, C₂₋₁₀ alkenediyl, C₁₋₁₀ dialkanylether and C₁₋₁₀ dialkanylketone groups; each L₂ represents a linking group independently selected from C₁₋₂ alkanediyl, C₂ alkenediyl, C₁₋₂ dialkanylether and C₁₋₂ dialkanylketone groups; and [X⁻] represents an anionic species.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the rare earth metal is recovered from the non-aqueous phase by stripping with an acidic stripping solution, e.g. an aqueous hydrochloric acid or nitric acid solution, preferably having a pH of 1 or lower and preferably a pH of 0 or higher, to give an acidic stripping solution comprising the recovered rare earth metal.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein processing the recovered rare earth metal into a rare earth metal oxide comprises: contacting the acidic stripping solution comprising the recovered rare earth metal with oxalic acid to give a rare earth metal oxalate; and converting, e.g. by calcination, the rare earth metal oxalate into the rare earth metal oxide.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the acidic stripping solution comprising the recovered rare earth metal is contacted with the oxalic acid at room temperature (e.g. at a temperature of from 15 to 30° C.).
 5. The method of claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the rare earth metal oxalate is calcined at a temperature of at least 500° C., preferably at least 700° C., and more preferably at least 900° C.
 6. The method of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the method further comprises processing the rare earth metal oxide into a magnet.
 7. The method of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the acidic solution comprises a first and a second rare earth metal, and the method comprises: (a) preferentially partitioning the first rare earth metal into the non-aqueous phase, recovering the first rare earth metal from the non-aqueous phase, and processing the recovered first rare earth metal into a rare earth metal oxide.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises, in step (a), separating the non-aqueous phase from the acidic solution; and (b) contacting the acidic solution depleted of the first rare earth metal with the composition which comprises an ionic liquid, and optionally recovering the second rare earth metal therefrom; and preferably wherein the first rare earth metal is recovered from the non-aqueous phase in step (a), and said non-aqueous phase is recycled and used as the composition in step (b); and/or the acidic solution has a pH of less than 3.5 in step (a), and the acidic solution has a pH of greater than 3.5 in step (b).
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises recovering the second rare earth metal from the non-aqueous phase and processing the recovered second rare earth metal into a rare earth metal oxide.
 10. The method of any of claims 7 to 9, wherein: the first rare earth metal is dysprosium, and the second rare earth metal is neodymium; or the first rare earth metal is europium, and the second rare earth metal is lanthanum.
 11. The method of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein: the acidic solution from which the rare earth metal is extracted has a pH of from 2 to 4; the composition is added to the acidic solution in a volume ratio of from 0.5:1 to 2:1, preferably 0.7:1 to 1.5:1, more preferably 0.8:1 to 1.2:1, for example 1:1; prior to contacting the composition with the acidic solution of the rare earth metal the composition is equilibrated with an acidic solution having the same pH as the acidic solution of the rare earth metal; the acidic solution is contacted with the composition for from 1 to 40 minutes, preferably from 5 to 30 minutes; and/or the method comprises contacting and physically mixing the acidic solution of the rare earth metal and the composition.
 12. The method of any of claims 1 to 11, wherein when the nitrogen linking L₁ to each L₂ and one of the EDG both coordinate to a metal, the ring formed by the nitrogen, L₂, the EDG and the metal is a 5 or 6 membered ring, preferably a 5 membered ring.
 13. The method of any of claims 1 to 12, wherein [Y⁺] represents: an acyclic cation selected from: [N(R^(a))(R^(b))(R^(c))]⁺, [—P(R^(a))(R^(b))(R^(c))]⁺ and [—S(R^(a))(R^(b))]⁺, where: R^(a), R^(b) and R^(c) are each independently selected from optionally substituted C₁₋₃₀ alkyl, C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl and C₆₋₁₀ aryl groups; or a cyclic cation selected from:

where: R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d), R^(e) and R^(f) are each independently selected from: hydrogen and optionally substituted C₁₋₃₀ alkyl, C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl and C₆₋₁₀ aryl groups, or any two of R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d) and R^(e) attached to adjacent carbon atoms form an optionally substituted methylene chain —(CH₂)_(q)— where q is from 3 to 6; or a saturated heterocyclic cation having the formula:

where: R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d), R^(e) and R^(f) are each independently selected from: hydrogen and optionally substituted C₁₋₃₀ alkyl, C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl and C₆₋₁₀ aryl groups, or any two of R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d) and R^(e) attached to adjacent carbon atoms form an optionally substituted methylene chain —(CH₂)_(q)— where q is from 3 to
 6. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein [Y⁺] represents a cyclic cation selected from:

and preferably represents the cyclic cation:

wherein preferably R^(f) is a substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl group, and the remainder of R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d), R^(e) and R^(f) are independently selected from H and unsubstituted C₁₋₅ alkyl groups.
 15. The method of any of claims 1 to 14, wherein L₁ represents: a linking group selected from C₁₋₁₀ alkanediyl and C₁₋₁₀ alkenediyl groups; preferably a linking group selected from C₁₋₆ alkanediyl and C₂₋₅ alkenediyl groups; more preferably a linking group selected from C₁₋₆ alkanediyl groups; and still more preferably a linking group selected from —CH₂—, —C₂H₄— and —C₃H₆—.
 16. The method of any of claims 1 to 15, wherein each L₂ represents: a linking group independently selected from C₁₋₂ alkanediyl and C₂ alkenediyl groups; preferably a linking group independently selected from C₁₋₂ alkanediyl groups; and more preferably a linking group independently selected from —CH₂— and —C₂H₄—.
 17. The method of any of claims 1 to 16, wherein each EDG represents: an electron donating group independently selected from —CO₂R^(x), —OC(O)R^(x), —CS₂R^(x), —SC(S)R^(x), —S(O)OR″, —OS(O)R^(x), —NR^(x)C(O)NR^(y)R^(z), —NR^(x)C(O)OR^(y), —OC(O)NR^(y)R^(z), ——NR^(x)C(S)OR^(y), —OC(S)NR^(y)R^(z), —NR^(x)C(S)SR^(y), —SC(S)NR^(y)R^(z), —NR^(x)C(S)NR^(y)R^(z), —C(O)NR^(y)R^(z), —C(S)NR^(y)R^(z), wherein R^(x), R^(y) and R^(z) are independently selected from H or C₁₋₆ alkyl; and preferably an electron donating group independently selected from —CO₂R^(x) and —C(O)NR^(y)R^(z), wherein R^(x), R^(y) and R^(z) are each independently selected from C₃₋₆ alkyl.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein each —L₂-EDG represents an electron donating group independently selected from:

and preferably from:

wherein R^(y)=R^(z), and wherein R^(x), R^(y) and R^(z) are each selected from C₃₋₆ alkyl, preferably C₄ alkyl, for example i-Bu.
 19. The method of any of claims 1 to 18, wherein [Cat⁺] represents one or more ionic species having the structure:

where: [Z⁺] represents a group selected from ammonium, benzimidazolium, benzofuranium, benzothiophenium, benzotriazolium, borolium, cinnolinium, diazabicyclodecenium, diazabicyclononenium, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octanium, diazabicyclo-undecenium, dithiazolium, furanium, guanidinium, imidazolium, indazolium, indolinium, indolium, morpholinium, oxaborolium, oxaphospholium, oxazinium, oxazolium, iso-oxazolium, oxothiazolium, phospholium, phosphonium, phthalazinium, piperazinium, piperidinium, pyranium, pyrazinium, pyrazolium, pyridazinium, pyridinium, pyrimidinium, pyrrolidinium, pyrrolium, quinazolinium, quinolinium, iso-quinolinium, quinoxalinium, quinuclidinium, selenazolium, sulfonium, tetrazolium, thiadiazolium, iso-thiadiazolium, thiazinium, thiazolium, iso-thiazolium, thiophenium, thiuronium, triazinium, triazolium, iso-triazolium and uronium groups.
 20. The method of any of claims 1 to 19, wherein [X⁻] represents one or more anionic species selected from: hydroxides, halides, perhalides, pseudohalides, sulphates, sulphites, sulfonates, sulfonimides, phosphates, phosphites, phosphonates, phosphinates, methides, borates, carboxylates, azolates, carbonates, carbamates, thiophosphates, thiocarboxylates, thiocarbamates, thiocarbonates, xanthates, thiosulfonates, thiosulfates, nitrate, nitrite, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate and perchlorate, halometallates, amino acids, borates, polyfluoroalkoxyaluminates; preferably selected from: bistriflimide, triflate, bis(alkyl)phosphinates such as bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinate, tosylate, perchlorate, [Al(OC(CF₃)₃)₄ ⁻], tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate, tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)-borate, tetrafluoroborate, hexfluoroantimonate and hexafluorophosphate anions; and more preferably selected from: bistriflimide, triflate and bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinate anions.
 21. The method of any of claims 1 to 20, wherein the composition further comprises a lower viscosity ionic liquid and/or one or more organic solvents.
 22. The method claim 21, wherein: the cation of the ionic liquid is present in the composition in a concentration of at least 0.001 M, preferably from 0.005 M to 0.01 M, for example 0.0075 M; and/or the anion of the ionic liquid is present in the composition in a concentration of at least 0.001 M, preferably from 0.005 M to 0.01 M, for example 0.0075 M.
 23. The method of any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the method comprises preparing the acidic solution of rare earth metal by leaching the rare earth metal from its source using an acid, the source of the rare earth metal preferably being a mineral or a waste material.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the method further comprises comminuting the source of the rare earth metal before leaching, e.g. by crushing, grinding or milling.
 25. The method of claim 23 or claim 24, wherein the method further comprising preparing the acidic solution of rare earth metal by a process which comprises: dissolving the rare earth metal source in a first mineral acid; adding a base to precipitate the rare earth metal as a salt; converting the salt into an oxide; converting the oxide into a halide salt; and dissolving the halide salt in a second mineral acid to form the acidic solution comprising rare earth metal. 